Maganto seeks court intervention in case filed against him

Controversial Chief Superintendent Romeo Maganto has asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to stop the Philippine National Police (PNP) from acting on a recommendation to have him dismissed from the service for allegedly harassing a Chinese kidnap suspect.

Maganto filed Tuesday a petition for prohibition, mandamus with temporary restraining order and damages against Director Lucas Managuelod, PNP chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management; kidnapping suspect Shie Shioa Fung and his lawyer, Emelita Habacon Garayblas; and the PNP Summary Dismissal board headed by Chief Supt. Manuel Cabigon.

Maganto demanded that the respondents pay him P2.5 million in damages and attorney’s fees.

Garayblas filed an administrative complaint against Maganto on Jan. 11 for allegedly maltreating Fung while the latter was detained at the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation office.

Managuelod subsequently issued a recommendation for "summary dismissal proceedings." A summary dismissal board, headed by Cabigon, was subsequently constituted. But Maganto said that Garayblas’ complaint was "not even supported by any affidavit coming from the supposed actual victim himself (Fung), nor was it attested by Fung.

He said that the complaint was filed with the office of Managuelod, who he claimed had no jurisdiction over the matter.

The police general said it should be the Office of the PNP Chief which should investigate the administrative charge against him.